Improvement in mowing-machines



ZSheetS-Shetz W. F. CUGHRANE.

mowing-Machines. N0.\57,794. Patented Dec. 15,1874.

y HULL M Attorney/s.

ZSheets--Sheet 2. W. F. CCHHANE.

Mowing-Mach'nes.

NO.\57,7QA Patented'DecJJSN.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEro.

WILLIAM F. COCHRANE, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENTv IN MOWlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,794, dated December15, 1871; application filed December 15, 1873.`

GAsE C.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM F. CooHEANE, of LaFayette, inthe county ofTippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Framefor Harvesting-Machines 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which-Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan view of the main frame. Fig. 2, Sheet l, isa transverse section taken in the 'plane of the line :r cc, Fig. 1. Fig.3, Sheet 1, is alongitudinal section of the frame, parts being shown inelevation. Fig. 4, Sheet 1, is a view of the guards for the driving gearand` pinion, and their connections. Fig. 5, Sheet 1, shows detachedviews of the rocking pipe-box, and one of the side pieces of the frame.Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a perspective view of one of the side pieces of theframe. Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a rear elevation of the main axle anddriving-wheels, showing the method of connecting the foot-board to theformer, together with the pinions for raising and lowering the frame,and Fig. 8, Sheet 2, is an inner side elevation of the machine, showingthe position of the grain-board.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings denote thesame parts.

My invention has for its object to improve the constructionofharvesting-machine frames, for the purpose of making them more compactand substantial; to simplify and facilitate the setting up or puttingtogether of the machine, and to so distribute the weight about the mainaxle and between the drivin g-wheels as to render the adjustment andmovements of the frame light and easy.

To these ends the invention consists, first, in constructing the sidepieces of the frame in two parts, one of wood and the other of metal,the latter being cast with sockets to receive the former in continuation of their length, and with vertical segmental slots, through whichthe axle of the machine extends, and by which the side pieces areallowed a vertical movement independently of the axle to adjust theposition of the frame. It also consists in pro- Viding the frame withconical sockets, into which the pipe or journal boxes of thecounter-shaft can be readily inserted to facilitate the setting up orfitting the parts of the frame together. It also consists in theconstruction of the pipe-boxes, and their connection with the sidepieces, to prevent them from rotating in the conical sockets. It alsoconsists in oonstructing the pipe boxes with overhanging outer ends, toform sand-washers for the joints between such ends and the pawl-platesof the drivin g-pinions. It also consists in the method of connectlngthe sides of the frame by through-bolts and tubular columns thereon, andin locking the two parts ofeach side piece together. securing the sidesof the mainframe together at their rear ends, and of connecting thepitinanshaft pipe-box to the frame.

In two applications for Letters Patent, tiled simultaneously herewith,to wit, applications A and B, I have shown the general features of theharvester-frame,4 but in neither case have I claimed the construction ofsuch frame, nor do I intend to, as it forms the subject of the presentapplication. The general form of the main frame is rectangular, and isconstructed in the following manner:

A A are the side pieces, each composed of two parts, B C, the former ofmetal and the latter of wood. The part B is east in the form of a shell,open upon its inner face, and with a longitudinal socket, D, at its rearend to receive the end of the timber C. The two timbers are securedwithin the sockets by the through-bolt E, which, in connection with theilanged column F, mounted thereon between such timbers, assists inholding the two side pieces of the frame together. The parts B areexpanded vertically near the sockets D, and have segmental slots Gformed in them of the proper width to receive the main axle H of themachine, the side pieces being passed over the ends of the axle andabutted against collars I keyed thereto. These collars serve to hold theside pieces against lateral displace ment when the frame is boltedtogether, and they are eachcast with a pinion, J, projecting within thesegmental slots G ofthe side pieces, to engage with curved racks K castupon the short arc of such slots. L L are the main It also consists inthe method of driving and supporting wheels, mountedupon opposite endsof the axle-outside the frame, so as to revolve independently of eachother, and M M are the driving-pinions on the countershaft N, meshinginto the internal gear-rims of the driving-wheels in the usual manner.VO is the socket of'a hand-lever, P2, keyed to the axle between theframe and outer driving wheel, as shown. By operating this lever theaxle is rocked or rotated to raise and lower the frame thereon throughthe medium of the segmental racks and pinions. P are conical sockets,cast upon the side pieces B of the frame to receive the pipe-boxes Q,forming the journal-bearings of the counter-shaft. These pipe-boxes areeach cast with a gib, R, bearing laterally against the outside of theframepiece B, and vertically upon the ends of a semi-annular gib, S,cast upon such framepiece. The two gibs prevent the pipe-box fromturning in the socket, and form a divided lange or rim, as shown. Thepipe-boxes are also made each'with a flange, T, upon its outer end, toproject over the joint between it and the pawl-plate U of thedriving-pinions, and form a sort of sand-washer for excluding the dirtfrom such joint. The sockets P are made somewhat conical to receive thepipe-boxes, so that, in putting the machine together, it is onlynecessary to insert the boxes in the sockets, without special itting ormanipulation,

when the counter-shaft will readily align itself. The conical socketsgreatly facilitate the setting up of the machine. W is the beveledgear-wheel, fitted upon the counter-shaft so that the latter shall turnfreely within it when uncoupled, and it is cast with a long tubular hub,V, on one side and a half-clutch on the other. X is the sliding clutch,operated by a shipping-lever, Y, to couple and uncouple thecounter-shaft and gear-wheel. The outer end of the tubular hub bearsagainst a collar, Z, on the counter-shaft to hold the gear-wheel engagedwith the beveled pinion on the pitman-shaft, and the collar is madeadjustable by a set-screw to regulate the depth of gear. The side piecesB are further cast upon their proximate faces with two sockets, A1, oneat the front end and the other at the base of the segmental racks, withwhich they are connected. The sockets A1 serve for the support of thethrough-bolts Bl B', by which the side pieces are fastened together, andalso as abutments for the tubular columns C1 C2 and D1 D2 upon thebolts. The several through-bolts are set up by nuts upon one or bothends of each, outside the frame, for the purpose of clamping the lattertogether. E1 is the guard for the face of the gear-wheel, formed with anopening in the center for the passage of the sliding clutch, and fittedat each end upon the bolts B B', which pass through them. The front endof the guard is clamped between the tubular columns C1 C2, and its rearend between the tubular column D1 and a half-box, F1, fitted upon thethrough-bolt between the columns D1 D2, said half-box being bolted tothe upper end of the pitman-shaft pipe-box H1. The lower end of thepipe-box H1 is cast with a crank-shield, I1, projecting under and to therear of the eye or tie bolt K1, which passes from one of the pivots ofthe bracket U- through the outer side piece of the frame, as shown bydotted lines in Fig. l.

The front side of the shield or the pointof its juncture with thepitinan-box is raised above the remaining portion to form the transversehalf-box J1, fitting the under side of the eyebolt. A half upper box,L1, bolted to the lower half-box, holds the pitman-shaft box upon thethroughbolt K1, while the columns M1 upon the throughbolt clamp thepipe-box between them against lateral displacement. U is the bracket forsupporting the hinged cutter and linger bars from the rear end of theframe, and V is the lifting-cam for raising and lowering the outer endsof said bars. The method of holding the rear end of the frame togetherfor the support of the bracket, and the construction ofthesupportingbracket and lifting-cams, I do not claim in this case, as theyform the subject of my application B. N1 is a shield, bolted to the faceof the guard E1, as shown, for protecting the beveled pinion O1 upon thepitmanshaft, and P1 is a lateral plate cast upon the side of the shieldE1 for locking the clutch-lever Y in place. The lever is pivoted at thelower end of the plate, and is provided with holes near its upper end toreceive the locking-pin of suchlever, as shown. S is a conical socketplaced upon the pivot of the clutch-lever, and recessed or notched atits base for the necessary throw of the lever. A spiral spring, T',surrounds the pivot within the socket, and presses the lever against theplate, when the clutch is thrown in or out of gear for the purpose ofholding the lever and clutch against lateral displacement, ordisplacement by the jar of the maA chine. W is the foot-board ortongue-bracket, cast in the general form shown, with a transversehalf-box, X, along its rear under surface to tit upon the main axle ofthe machine. Y is a second half-box, iitting under said axle, andsecured to the half-box X by means of the stirrups A3 embracing thehalf-boxes, and passing up through the foot-board to receive theholding-nuts E2. This construction allows the foot-board to projectforward from the axle, while the latter is free to rotate or rock withinthe box. The foot-board carries the drivers seat and draft-pole, and iscast with an opening near one side, through which the clutch-lever Yprojects within reach of the driver. F2 is a notched detent, pivoted tothe front through-bolt of the frame, so as to extend upward through aslot, G2, in the footboard, where it engages with a cross-pin, H2, forthe purpose of holding the main frame down at the forward end, so thatthe cutting mechanism shall be raised to the proper position when themachine is set up as a grainharvester. The detent is not employed whenthe machine is operated as a mower. l2 1s the traction-latch, composedof a bar, J 2, pivoted at its lower end to one of the throughbolts ofthe frame between the main axle and driving-gear, and extending upwardthrough a longitudinal slot in the foot-board, where it is pivoted to aclutch-block, K2, adapted to engage with teeth L2, surrounding the slotin the foot-board. The traction-latch supports the main frame at a pointbetween the gearcenter and main axle, and, by rocking the latter,through the operation of the handl lever P2, the frame is raised andlowered," so that the traction-latch shall be adjustedforward and backin the rack L2, for the purpose of raising and lowering the cuttingapparatus, and regulating its position with respect to the ground, aswell as to restore the weight from the cutter-bar to the main framebetween the driving-wheels. The traction-latch and its functions, aswell as the adjustable detent, I do not claim herein, as I have madethem the subject of my application A.

M2 is a guard-board or shield to keep the grain out of the inner driving-wheel, and extends from the inner shoe of the cutter-bar to theirontof the main frame. It passes outside the driving-wheel, and is providedwith a segmental slot, N2, through which the hub of such vWheelprojects. This slot corresponds with the segmental slots in the frame,so that when the frame is raised and lowered the guard shall move withit. A right-angular bolt, O2, passes through the front end of the guard,and tits within a socket, P3, secured to the side of the frame, orformed upon the head of the front through-bolt, for the purpose ofholding the forward end of the guard in place. A bracket, Q2, bolted tothe inner face of the guard for the passage of the bolt O2, holds theguard from tipping laterally, and affords a bearing for it to turn uponwhen the frame is raised and lowered. The rear end of the guard ispivoted to the inner shoe of the iinger'bar, so that it shall be held inan upright position, being provided with a bracket, R2, the arm of whichtits upon one of the pivots connecting the finger-bar to the bracket ofthe frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The metalparts of the side pieces, cast with longitudinal sockets at their rearends to receive the wooden parts, substantially as described.

2. The main frame of the harvester, the side pieces of which arecomposed of the wooden parts C, fitting the sockets in the ends of theparts B, such side pieces being secured together and braced therequisite distance apart by the through-bolts and columns thereon, thecentral bolt and column also serving to lock the metal and wooden partstogether, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the pipe-boxes Q of the counter-shaft with theconical sockets P, cast in the side pieces of the frame, for the purposeof facilitating the setting up of the machine, substantially asdescribed.

4; The pipe-boxes for the counter-sh aft, cast with the gib R, andinserted in the conical sockets P, so that the gib shall bear upon asimilar gib, S, cast upon the side piece ofthe main fra-ine, for thepurpose of preventing such boxes from rotating in the sockets,substantially as described.

5. The pipe-boxes of the counter-shaft cast with a gib, B, to engagewith a projection on the frame, to prevent the said boxes from turning,and with a projecting ange, T, to form a sand-washer for the pawl-plateof the driving-pinion, substantially as described.

6. The guard for the face of the gear-wheel W, clalnped in place at itsforward end between the tubular columns Cl C2 of the front through-boltB', and at its rear end between the tubular columns D1 and half-boxes F1on the second through-bolt, substantially as described. 7. rIlhepitman-shaft pipebox, cast at its front end with ears, and at its backend with the shield I1, and transverse half-box J1 in front of and abovethe shield, so that the pipebox shall be supported in position by thebolts K1 B', substantially as described.

WM. F. COCHRANE.

"Witnesses:

MELVILLE CHURCH, N. K. ELLswoRTH.

